Amari, Diana, and Mya wove through the streets. Mya skipped in front of them with excitement in every step. Amari couldn't help the smile on her face watching her hop around.
"Outing! Outing!" she exclaimed ahead.
Diana, after hearing about Amari's lack of clothing, insisted on taking her shopping to the thrift store, and Mya, overhearing the conversation immediately, asked to join, which Amari couldn't decline. Amari herself wasn't opposed to the idea, she wasn't much of a fan of the badly stitched gash in her standard wanderer outfit. Her lack of objection was also completely unrelated to the fact that Diana had offered to pay.
Diana grabbed her arm. "Right here, dear." Amari was snapped back to the present as the trio walked into the building.
**************************************************
As soon as they made it in the store, Mýa took off running, giggling all the while.
Diana shook her head. "No running!"
"Sorry!"
Diana turned her head toward Amari, dragging her inside. "Get whatever makes you comfortable—and don't worry about the price tags dear, this place is cheap."
Amari nodded along, thoughts already running through her head. "I don't need to stand out. Just something comfortable and something I can blend in with, and it has to look good, of course. She paused. "Wait... everybody looks like a thief around here... well, looks like I'm matching."
**************************************************
A punch landed and sent a 13-year-old boy back to the wall.
"Ggh-!"
Three men stood in infront of him.
"Why don't you tell your dad to ease up, huh? I'm drowning over here" One said
Another stepped forward. "Nah—forget all that, that won't bring my wife back to me." His hand struck forward, and the boy tried to block, only for the strike to land anyway. " It's because of you and that stupid father of yours that she left me!" He reached for the boy's shirt, pulling him up.
The boy pushed back. "Look—I've got nothing to do with that! Let me go already!" The man pulled him closer. "Or what?"
"Let him go!"
A rock shot at the man's head. He dropped the boy, holding the side of his head.
"Ah-! What the hell?!" The other men peered down as the boy looked up to see a six-year-old girl in front of him holding more rocks in her arms.
Mya
"Go away, you big bullies!" As she threw more rocks at them, the boy grabbed her arm. "Hey—what are you doing?! Get out of here—this isn't some joke!"
Mya shook her head. "No way! These guys are being big meanies!"
A man's eyebrow twitched. "Oh, get lost! Or else you'll end up just like him!" Mya stayed right where she was. Another man clicked his teeth. "You little—!" He reached his hand up, but before it could begin its descent, it was grabbed.
"Got a problem?"
Amari stood, holding the man's wrist with her new outfit on display. She wore dark brown pants tucked into black leather boots, with a loose dark-gray shirt under black leather armor strapped across her chest. A short black cloak rested over her shoulders, and leather bracers covered her forearms. Small pouches hung from her belt, and fingerless gloves covered her hands.
The men scoffed. "And who're you supposed to be?"
"Someone who's gonna put you in your place, obviously."
Diana ran over, and Amari pushed the man back a step.
"Mya! Are you alright? You're not hurt, are you?"
Mya shook her head. "I'm ok!"
Diana sighed in relief. "Oh, thank goodness, and you?" she asked, turning towards the boy.
"Are you alright?" The boy, now in shock, nodded his head "Y-yeah..."
"That's good—" she paused, her eyes widening in recognition.
"Your...your the advisor's son."
Amari froze upon hereing that before looking back at the men " Oh wow, you guys must be really stupid"
A man charged
Amari stepped to the side, elbowing his back nocking the air out of his lungs
"Ggh-!"
Another charged from the side and Amari grabbed his shirt and pinned him to the wall
"You-!"
Amari covered his mouth "Oh shut up already"
She drew one of her daggers.
"Look, you all got two choices. Leave or get your ass kicked. Your choice."
The last man backed away and the other followed. Amari let go of the one she was holding, motioning her head, "Get lost."
*********************************************************
"Thank you" The boy said, laying on a spare bed in Sabi's place, patched up.
"It was no issue" Amari said, shrugging her shoulders. Mya perked up. "Hi! I'm Mya!" The boy looked at her, a little startled. "Uh... Marco, and thanks to you too...I guess."
"No prom- wait what-?"